Meet Makenzie Divina: Miss Teen South Carolina United States 2016

Lady Code was created to promote anti-bullying and women’s wellness and empowerment. Every day, we provide posts that are meant to motivate you and build confidence; so we were super excited to meet MaKenzie Divina! MaKenzie was a victim of bullying growing up, so she decided to promote E.Y.E.S, an anti bullying platform. Not only is she actively involved in serving her community, but she also captured the Miss Teen South Carolina United States 2016 title to bring even more awareness to this important cause. Read MaKenzie’s interview to learn more about your reigning Teen South Carolina queen and how you can get involved in your community to stop bullying.

Quick facts…

Hometown: Roscommon, MI
Current City: Piedmont, SC
Three words that sum you up: Positive, Energetic, Perseverant
Song you have on repeat right now: Turing Pages by Sleeping At Last
Dream job: Heart Surgeon
Beauty product you can’t live without: My lip gloss
Favorite quote: She believed she could and so she did

What projects do you have going on at the moment?
At the moment I am working on doing a huge volunteer event with the Dream Center in Easley, SC to benefit the homeless community that is unfortunately in my community. I am also working on gaining supplies that will be for Mary’s House, which is a home for abused women and their children. These supplies include anything for baby clothes to canned goods.

What are you looking forward to the most during your reign?
I am looking forward to giving back to my community. My community is so important to me because they shaped me to become the person I am today. I love seeing people’s faces when I donate something or just make an appearance! It makes all of the hard work worth it! I love the United States pageant system because it fosters my love for volunteering!

What has been the highlight of being Miss Teen South Carolina so far?
The highlight so far has been being able to meet all of my wonderful sister queens. Without this pageant I never would have met some of the most amazing people in the whole world. They are all so beautiful, supportive, and encouraging! We are all one big family!

What are some of your best beauty secrets to looking flawless all the time?
My one beauty secret that I stick with it just to look natural! When you wear makeup it should just be to enhance your already beautiful face. Don’t add on a lot of unnecessary makeup! For everyday I just love to wear a little foundation, blush, eyeliner, and mascara. Just enough to make me feel and look beautiful!

Growing up, who was your inspiration? 
My mother has and always will be my biggest inspiration! She is just the most amazing person in the whole world! She has taught me some of life’s most important lessons like to never give up! She has always supported me and I hope to be half as good as a mother and wife as she was.

What are some challenges that you faced on your journey to success, and how did you overcome them?
People judging me has always been my biggest challenge that I have faced. No matter what happens people will always want to put you down and you just have to believe in yourself and know that you can do anything you put your mind to! That is why my favorite quote is “She believed she could and so she did.” I say this quote with every situation that I face and it has gotten me through every situation. I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me!

Lady Code has a focus on anti-bullying and women empowerment. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be victims of bullying?
This is my platform exactly! My advice would be to love yourself and to know that you are perfect the way you are! As a victim of bullying myself I know how it feels to feel alone and that you are worthless, but I now know that this is the only person I am meant to be! One day I hope you will be able to say the same thing with the help of Lady Code and my Platform E.Y.E.S.

Tell us about your platform:
My platform is called E.Y.E.S. or Empowering Youth Every Second! My platform is all about anti bullying and bring confidence back to the youth in South Carolina and eventually the nation. I have such a strong passion for making kids feel better about themselves because nothing makes me feel worse then seeing a bright young kid having no self confidence! With my platform I hope to see South Carolina grow in confidence and that the youth can start to enjoy life again!

What can Lady Code readers do in their communities to get involved? 
They can follow me on all of my social media pages so you can keep up with my year as Miss Teen SC United States 2016! They could also spread my platform of anti-bullying and building self confidence so this issue can end faster! Every conversation counts and could really benefit someone’s life!

Can you tell us about your 5-year plan?
In my 5-year plan I am going to Clemson University to be a health science major! After that I hope to go to medical school and become a very successful doctor one day! I hope to find cures to diseases that effect my family and families all over the world!

What is the best advice you have ever received? 
The best advice I have ever received is that a smile is the best makeup you can wear! This is so important to me as a pageant girl because people think that it is all about the makeup and looking perfect at every point and this is not the case. A smile can go a long way and makes you the most beautiful! Even after all of the dresses, shoes, and hair extensions remember that nothing can make you more beautiful than a positive attitude and a wonderful smile!

Keep up with Makenzie:
Snapchat: makenzie.divina
Twitter: makenzie_divina
Instagram: makenzie.divina
Facebook Fan Page: MaKenzie Divina Miss Teen SC United States 2016

To learn more about the Miss United States pageant, visit http://www.unitedstatesnationalpageants.com/ 

Please contact us if you have an empowering story to share: contactladycode@gmail.com